By Nikka Garriga
PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA— With football’s increasing popularity locally, the Philippine Azkals are hoping more Filipino players would follow suit in representing the country in international tournaments.
Three teams from Luzon and Visayas are already vying for the prestigious PFF-Suzuki U23 National Cup, the local adaptation of the AFF Suzuki Cup contested by national football teams of Southeast Asia.
The Azkals have redefined the sport in the country after qualifying for the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010. The national team is currently seeded with other ASEAN nations for the Group Stage eliminations slated on November 24 to December 1 in Thailand and Malaysia.
“This [AFF Suzuki Cup] is where it all began. It is up to us to keep [the sport] going. . .We’re more than up to it. We want to show what we can
